Bike lane on the Hoan? Walker says no. Barrett says maybe.

Local blogger Dave Schlabowske prompted me to wonder this week where the gubernatorial candidates stand on the great Hoan Bridge bike lane question.

Schlabowske, the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for Milwaukee, made a case for a plan rejected previously by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation: eliminate one of the three northbound traffic lanes and replace it with a bike lane, separated from traffic by a concrete barrier.

The group’s main objective is to block any proposal to replace the Hoan with a smaller lift bridge. But the coalition’s leader, County Supervisor Patricia Jursik, also argues the bridge, in any variation, should be open to bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

Gov. Jim Doyle punted the major decisions about the future of the Hoan, including the addition of a bike lane, to his successor.

His campaign sent this response to the question: “Tom would be open to a discussion of the pros and cons of a Hoan Bridge bike lane. Safety and traffic flow issues, as well as if there would be demand for a lane, would have to be addressed.”

yeah, the only reason to not vote for Scott Walker is this. I mean, there's the whole thing of him being a worthless college drop out, or destroying an entire mental health complex. But really, it's just the bridge thing.

I see lots of comments how great an idea this is. Once again, I ask the simple question, whose paying for this. If bikes continue to gain their own lanes and routes, they're going to have to start paying for them. It costs the same to build a bike path as it does a road so how do we pay for it? Since there's not fuel or tire tax, registration for an average bike would need to be very high to cover the costs. The costs should not be shifted to other vehicles. So how much would be fair? Considering the rebuilding of the Hoan Barrett would force the bike path, would $500/year be fair? The Hank Aaron trail just cost $34,000,000. If you want nice trails, paths and car lanes, you should pay for them too.

Maximilian77I drink coffee and drive a 4 door. Granted it's a Maybach 62 but it's still a sedan.... you Republicans are too fat sitting in your SUVS and drinking your

As to being a Republicans and your description, I think you're slightly confused. We have all shapes, sizes and types in the party. Some have money, others do not. One thing you did get right while sitting around with your country club limo liberals, is that we don't use our Schwinn to go to work. While I'd love to bike to work, I don't have the 2 hours or more per day to do this. We have careers where a car is required. We work long hours so we can pay the taxes you don't.

If you want the Hoan converted, let the bike riders pay for it. Just like I tell the light rail crowds. You want it, raise the money and pay for it.

As a long time bike rider, I object. At 67, I ride 3,000 miles a year. I see too many people who can't avoid or negotiate a pothole on a smooth bike trail in West Allis, let alone a huge uphill grade, in wind, and a huge downhill freefall in wind on that bridge. Very experienced bike riders would love it but how many are very experienced?

I like the idea of using an old rail bed. That would be a great use of currently wasted land and a nice clear shot downtown. I would much rather cyclists have a safe way too and from downtown than be swerving all over in front of me or messing up traffic.

Agree with JTBA. Bike lanes and bike paths along normal terrain are one thing, but how many residents would realistically BE ABLE to (much less actually want to) pedal up that bridge, only to feel as if they're going to get blown right off of the darn thing at the top? For goodness' sake, I've been nervous driving in the right lane in a 4-cylinder CAR on windy days on that bridge!

Such a stupid little non-issue. Barrett waits too see which way the wind blows and Walker just makes a common sense decision. Who thinks any election hinges on some stupid bike lane!!! Wait, maybe there are 4 people in Milwaukee who think this is the biggest thing in their lives. Of course, that's why they are still in Milwaukee.

Jerryj, care to change your tune after reading several people's comments who have ridden on the Hoan Bridge and it not being a problem. Kids were riding on the bridge. Doesn't seem like a problem at all. Many people commented that it would be almost impossible to ride the bridge, but not one of those people had tried it. It would be a much safer commute than biking on 1st street. It would get used quite a bit. The non-exercisers have no clue sometimes how many people actually care about their fitness and the environment. Also, Jerryj, there are many reasons not to vote for Walker, but that isn't what this thread is about. It was just one more reason.

i like how the people who have actually done the ride up and down the Hoan say it's no a big deal, and it's actually quite easy and they would love to do it again, while everyone who hasn't done it says it's impossible, too steep, too windy, and will never be used.

I bike when i can around the east side, but dread the east side to Bay View ride because 1st st. is terrible. I would rather use the old railroad beds than eliminate a Hoan lane myself. Nobody on the Hoan gets within 10 miles of the posted speed limit, and it's not that i don't trust my own riding, it's that i don't trust cars, despite all the barriers. I'd rather be flat than on that bridge, although i would LOVE to see it used for the Ride for the Arts, rather than using 1st St at least in one direction, i think that would really bring in a lot of riders and make it an exceptional event. Nobody rides the Hoan during those hours anyways, 7 am til 10 on sunday morning.

converting an old railbed won't work. just look at a google map satallite view of the area. there are two. on is definitely still in use, the other (which appears to not be in use, but i am not sure) has two water crossings. the crossing would require draw bridges, so those are out.

what about a marsupial bridge under the hoan like the holton bridge? would that be possible, or would that be a navigational issue for large ships and sail boats going under the bridge? meh, bad idea, im sure it would be hard to justify the cost.

I agree with someone's earlier comment that we should just open the bridge to pedestrian traffic, let the "buyer" (ie, rider) beware. I'd feel much safer up there then on current routes.

And "tea party" people have to understand that as a society we sometimes have to pay for things we don't use. I don't have children, but I still pay for the public schools. I also have never been to the stadium, but I pay the stadium tax (which is arguably very similar to this case....a stadium is not necessary, but adds to the quality of life in an area, is recreational, and is a massive maintenance cost). I'd even bet that there would be enough philanthropic interest in the project to completely fund the construction costs.

Finally, last month with one lane closed in both directions, I never noticed a northbound backup, and I traveled the bridge at all different times of day. I agree that southbound does require three lanes during rush hour. But two northbound lanes can easily handle traffic loads, since additional lanes open up once the road curves to the west (as opposed to losing lanes like it does heading south).

I lived in MKE from 2003-2005, and still consider myself a Milwaukeean at heart. I was always concerned by the lack of good bike connections to the south side. 6th Street and 1st Street are dangerous! It's quite a statement about how much bikers crave safety that they would be willing to bike way up on the Hoan separated by a concrete barrier from cars. Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't. I'd like to try it and see. But this much I can say-- Milwaukee needs a designated bike path to the South Side similar to the Oak Leaf Trail to the north. With all the investment going into the old industrial valley (which I wholeheartedly approve-- the old days of industry simply aren't coming back in the foreseeable future), I wonder if it would be so hard to also commit something to building a pedestrian bridge somewhere downtown, along with an extended north-south bike trail connected to the Oak Leaf. In little Marburg, Germany, the Germans are about to build their fourth foot bridge over the Lahn River. Far bigger rivers have them too. Germans are in general healthier and more environmentally friendly than we are, because they have such an infrastructure and use it for their everyday needs. Surely the US can muster a foot bridge in downtown Milwaukee. In an economically prosperous country in which over eighty million people are crammed into a space the size of Montana, they still find land for bike paths. Why can't we?

I ride my bike most every day of the year during all four Wisconsin seasons and I would never ride across the Hoan. I'm a good rider and an excellent hill climber. The wind on the Hoan and the stench from Jones Island, however, would be enough to make me stick to ground level options.

I appreciate Barrett's willingness to look into this, but I hope a better route from Bay View to downtown is studied. Painting lines on KK and calling them bike lanes isn't much help, by the way.

I rode it in the '80s when they used to have "Hoan Bridge Day" and closed it for peds & bikes. I've ridden the Bong Bridge path from Duluth to Superior and the Golden Gate in SF many times including this May with wind gusts of 40+ mph. I'd say the Hoan is not the best bike commuter solution, but what alternatives are being presented?

Phil,I was just thinking the same thing about the Golden Gate Bridge. I have biked it a handful of times. You want to talk about windy? Yet it is still manageable and thousands of people do it every day.

I drive the Hoan Bridge at least twice a day. I would be more than happy to take an alternate route for a day so it could be shut down to traffic and all the naysayers who say it is too/steep/windy/dangerous etc. could take a ride over it. I think they might be surprised how doable it is.